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The American Revolution by Centennial
Commission was authorized by a joint

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resolution of Congress to prepare an
overall program for commemorating the two

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hundredth anniversary of the United States
the commission was asked to plan to

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encourage development and
coordinate observances

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and activities commemorating the
historic events that preceded it

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and are associated with
the American Revolution.

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It will give special emphasis to the
ideas associated with the revolution

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and its implications for future generations
the commission itself is composed of

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seventeen public members appointed by the
president eight congressional members for

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each from the House and Senate

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and eleven members who are secretaries
of various federal agencies.

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The commission's charter is broad
its responsibility is great.

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The Bicentennial has to be more than
make ceremonial location the way we as a

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nation choose to celebrate the two hundredth
anniversary will have an important

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bearing on what we learn from it and
on the inspiration. We draw from it.

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The Bicentennial Commission plans to emphasize
the continuing effort to achieve the

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fulfillment of the ideals

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and ideas of the revolution as stated
in the Declaration of Independence

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and the Constitution to inventory the
progress of the last two centuries

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and to state the unattained goals new

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and old some of this work will be
solemn some will be festive because

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the two hundredth birthday of our country.

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To be at one stage joyous celebration

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and a solemn rededication members of
the American Revolution Bicentennial

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Commission

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and representatives of various states
gathered at the White House at the invitation

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of President Nixon they heard him charge
them with the responsibility to not just

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move forward in reaching for
material goals but to move forward.

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Also in the realm of the American spirit as
we enter century three of American life.

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The president said.

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As all of you know we're gathered in
this historic cause for an opportunity

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that comes to a people once in a century.

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The celebration of the two hundred then
a verse free of the United States which

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will take place in one
nine hundred seventy six.

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And we are starting to plan now we have
representatives not only from the federal

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government but from most of the states of
the nation here to plan that celebration.

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I would like to speak to

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that subject very briefly to
speak to it in perhaps a way

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that most of you would not have thought
of would not a photo of because

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traditionally when we think of
this kind of a celebration.

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We think of the nation's
past and we glory in

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that past as we should we
think of the nation's present

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and we consider the problems

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that we must deal with this celebration I
would hope would look to America's future

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look to the year one thousand
nine hundred seventy six

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and set for ourselves goals for

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that year in one thousand nine hundred
seventy six which we can achieve in the

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space of seven years we can
achieve great goals so that

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when one thousand nine hundred seventy six
come to you can look back over those two

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hundred years with even greater pride
than we did one hundred years ago.

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Could I refer to. The early
days of this country.

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To the time that this nation
was founded and to the words

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that were spoken by those who at the time
of the Beck aeration of Independence

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thought of the mission of America.

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What America could mean to the
world and one of them said

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that we act not just for
ourselves but for all mankind.

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You know we hear that today and we think

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that was perhaps a very appropriate statement
to make because history has justified

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that kind of optimism. Now
and setting forth goals.

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I can tell you

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that this administration
is thinking in terms

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that are tremendously exciting
in the field of hunger.

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It will be possible by the year one thousand
nine hundred seventy six to abolish

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hunger in the United States of America.

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It will be possible in the year one nine
hundred seventy six to make enormous

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progress in the field of housing
in the field of transportation.

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And all of these areas that are tremendously
important to every American family

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and that also are admired and
respected around the world

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and so to those who come from the states

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and those here from the
federal government.

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Let us set for our goal in one
thousand nine hundred seventy six.

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Not just moving forward in
all these material areas.

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But to move forward in the
realm of the American spirit.

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I know this sounds perhaps
too illusory too uncertain

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for us. Possibly to capture. But it is
there. We must put our minds to it.

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We must put our hearts to it. And that
brings me now to those from the States.

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I'm Erica is fifty states.

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I'm Erica is big cities and
small cities and small towns.

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It's all the homes and all the hopes
of two hundred million people

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and that's why we want this celebration
to be national It must go directly to the

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people and derive its
strength from the people

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and we want people all over this land to
sense the greatness of this moment to

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participate and to help us all to
discover what that great spirit is

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and so I would charge this commission
to move forward move forward.

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Yes in reaching the great material
goals of which we know we are capable.

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That's the easiest part of
the job but recognizing

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that the best bed best clothes.

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Best House people in the world that
the strongest nation in the world

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and the richest nation the world still will
not deserve to be the hope of the world.

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Unless it has that splendid spirit
to lift of a driving dream.

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Which meant so much to the world
in seven hundred seventy six

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and for two hundred years since that
time I would conclude simply by saying

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that by that year one hundred seventy
six The world will be at peace by

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that year in one thousand
nine hundred seventy six.

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I'm Erica we trust will
find the understanding

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that we perhaps do not have
in many quarters today.

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But above everything else I would trust in

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that year in one thousand
nine hundred eighty six

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that more Americans can
look back with pride

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and look to the future with
hope hope that the opportunity

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that everybody in this
room is had is something

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that is a realizable dream
that can be achieved.

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For anyone who has the good
fortune to be born in the.

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Country for anyone who has the good
fortune to come to this country.

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The Bicentennial Commission sees the two
hundredth birthday of the United States as

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an opportunity to assess the new the
principles on which the country was founded to

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measure the life liberty and
the pursuit of happiness.

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Today

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and for tomorrow to expand the front tears
for individual fulfillment to balance

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the rights and responsibilities inherent
in freedom and to celebrate the joys

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that life and liberty provide

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and with these to take renewed
pride in the continuing American

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Revolution the American Revolution
Bicentennial Commission

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asked you what you

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or your organization would like to do
to help make the bicentennial a great

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national success right to the American
Revolution Bicentennial Commission

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box nine hundred seventy
six Washington D.C..